System/C++

The System/C++ architecture is centered around the compilation process, which transforms C++ source code into executable programs for z/OS, z/VM, and zVSE/VSEn platforms. The main components include the compiler front-end, code generator, and linker. The compiler front-end performs lexical analysis, syntax analysis, and semantic analysis on the C++ source code.

It checks for errors and builds an internal representation of the code. The code generator then translates this internal representation into assembler source code. This assembler code is optimized for the target mainframe architecture.

The generated assembler source code is then passed to the system assembler, which produces object code. Finally, the linker combines the object code with any required libraries to create the executable program. The compiler supports standard C++ libraries and provides extensions for mainframe-specific features.

The primary configuration interface is the command line, where developers specify compiler options such as include paths (`-I`), optimization levels (`-O`), and debugging information (`-g`).